Kareena catches the flu!

Mumbai, Dec. 19 -- At the start of her career in the early 2000s, Kareena Kapoor teamed up with film-maker Suneel Darshan on multiple films like Talaash: The Hunt Begins (2003) and Dosti (2005). So when she was invited to the music launch of Darshan's son, Shiv's, debut film, Karle Pyaar Karle, she immediately agreed. But Kareena's illness played spoilsport.

"She was very excited to be part of the music launch. But a day before the event (that was held on December 17), when she came back from Bangkok, she was down with a bad flu. Doctors advised her bed rest so that her illness wouldn't get aggravated. That's why she couldn't make it to the event," says an insider close to her.

We have also come to know that since Kareena had already committed to performing at an awards function on December 18, she didn't want to exert herself more. "Kareena knew that a lot of money was riding on her performance for which all the preparations were already done," adds the insider.

While Kareena couldn't be reached for comment, her spokesperson confirms the news, saying, "Kareena flew from Bangkok the day before and got a bad flu. Though she was very keen on attending Suneelji's event, the doctors had strongly advised her bed rest to avoid any kind of exertion."

Although Kareena was missing at the event, her sister Karisma - who has worked with Darshan on many films like Haan Maine Bhi Pyaar Kiya (2002), Ek Rishtaa (2001) and Mere Jeevan Saathi (2006) - attended it.